tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14273145462244883802024-03-05T22:28:42.482+11:00France has coconutsThe adventures of an Australian woman in New CaledoniaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-18205437897640726662015-06-11T19:56:00.000+10:002015-06-11T19:56:20.592+10:00Reset :: making a new life in the shadow of the old.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOaDIPCfPMADXoikWpRrDZWQ4vfJvzSvpvPqHwerKpNfRoP9yFYetKOAU6GgHhyphenhyphen2pGowHLNR9gLSykT9clGFLvSxYCBWhXax5mblvsfm45mDFZ75r83qGvD_IIioxyEdsbwKgms_ok2M/s1600/342966_4738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOaDIPCfPMADXoikWpRrDZWQ4vfJvzSvpvPqHwerKpNfRoP9yFYetKOAU6GgHhyphenhyphen2pGowHLNR9gLSykT9clGFLvSxYCBWhXax5mblvsfm45mDFZ75r83qGvD_IIioxyEdsbwKgms_ok2M/s640/342966_4738.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via <a href="http://www.freeimages.com/pic/l/a/am/amaliamira/342966_4738.jpg">freeimages</a><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About 5 weeks ago, we left our adopted home of New Caledonia to return to our native Australia. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What has happened since has been at various times chaotic, exhausting, fraught, educational and a little lonely.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This isn't to say that seeing family and friends again hasn't been great. Sure, moving in with parents when you have 2 small children and a bucketload of huge life decisions to make isn't a picnic, but we've made it through that chapter fairly intact and the scars are healing pretty well now, thankyou.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The difficulty hasn't just been deciding on jobs, travelling long distances, being often separated from our kids, finding a house, moving, finding schools....it's losing, and then missing, a lot of our reference points that had become second nature and which we'd unwittingly become reliant on and even unconsciously looking forward to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm talking about boring familiarity of workplace, school routines, seeing friends, going through the domestic family motions of life. Of knowing that just about every day I could guarantee running into at least one, if not several familiar, friendly faces throughout my travels to go shopping or taking Jack to kini. Of knowing that I would be wearing either thongs or sandals everyday because the weather is reliably warm. Of knowing that many of my friends were pretty much living my life and I theirs because we're all there for the same reason and facing similar challenges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then you leave and there's no gradual transition. It was there. And now it's not. Now it's completely different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hit reset, begin again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And gosh, we miss our NC friends. A lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So we've found a job, a house, a fridge, our winter clothes and today, a school. At just about every topic we debated, thumb-wrestled, argued, despaired, rallied and finally decided (note agreement not always present. Relentment often is). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fear of making a wrong decision or being forced into a decision we didn't want to make has been a strong emotion lately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then we remember that unlike tattoos, not all decisions have to be permanent. We have the power to make new ones, better ones, different ones. Our New Caledonia experience taught us that. It's given us the power. We do feel grateful about that and we talk about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So we're slowly building a new life while reflecting often on the old. Comparing and contrasting the new with the old. Wondering when we'll get back. If this life can replace that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We couldn't really visualise our future when we left New Caledonia. It was a jump into the abyss, hoping we would land on our feet. Despite things sometimes still feeling shaky, we probably have. We're making the decisions, finding new routine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But New Caledonia is still to fresh in my mind I think of it everyday. I wonder when the memories will fade. Hopefully not for a long, long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com1Victoria, Australia-37.4713077 144.7851531-43.9915052 134.4580046 -30.951110199999995 155.1123016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-17596339239824967652015-04-24T13:10:00.001+10:002015-04-24T13:10:10.944+10:00The calm and the turmoil.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZYaO-Q1-YsqEyW7QT9L5qfFK0C0Ks41fteQVLznNTGuT6wPb-N8KnCwdwxLr8tJ2VetHVmlk0EcjWku_o2GvQQiwxzPYbdaSzle2pJEk816l-uBzDvG68uOC8vdeFzbRwBRxne0nBqo/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZYaO-Q1-YsqEyW7QT9L5qfFK0C0Ks41fteQVLznNTGuT6wPb-N8KnCwdwxLr8tJ2VetHVmlk0EcjWku_o2GvQQiwxzPYbdaSzle2pJEk816l-uBzDvG68uOC8vdeFzbRwBRxne0nBqo/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today is kinda an off day for me. Getting so close to leaving the island and things start to get a little pressured. Shipping boxes, selling cars, winding up school, closing bank accounts.....tensions become frayed with what to do, when, who and how.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8QiudXtTn1QI0_k5Yv1Nsxpu-uJWWd7ZQSLcl5RD3VXOKTbuqxsHLdHXB0BGr3cixEzi6WlaqHP_KuL6fduDqEnXHocRgzkETjgtlZBcc8p28PX3R433pjbKIL-aRl6vQ_bRaZ550Rw/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8QiudXtTn1QI0_k5Yv1Nsxpu-uJWWd7ZQSLcl5RD3VXOKTbuqxsHLdHXB0BGr3cixEzi6WlaqHP_KuL6fduDqEnXHocRgzkETjgtlZBcc8p28PX3R433pjbKIL-aRl6vQ_bRaZ550Rw/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was feeling low this morning after I ordered two chocolate cakes at the local patisserie. The plan is to take a cake after lunch into both Nellie and Jack's class for a classroom farewell party next week, and I left the patisserie after a lengthy discussion with several staff about what size they should be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally we agreed (or I convinced them) that a '6 personnes' gateau will do the job for a class or 4 or 6 year olds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotZ-GumCmmHI4iZg3Nr47GrFm1lGOZUxAahmvrg1NZ6fjxlRE3nlhMwLzY3jiSVHbI3TsrswBV4GWOK1Ye7BOSollcvicvyVacPVu8apOaCwQvTDK7yLPUcey7ssB6guGaX-mDNZmxkA/s1600/IMG_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotZ-GumCmmHI4iZg3Nr47GrFm1lGOZUxAahmvrg1NZ6fjxlRE3nlhMwLzY3jiSVHbI3TsrswBV4GWOK1Ye7BOSollcvicvyVacPVu8apOaCwQvTDK7yLPUcey7ssB6guGaX-mDNZmxkA/s1600/IMG_1732.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was driving away, thinking about how I need to organise napkins, plates, juice.....but I just felt sad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just...sad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the frustrations over moving, and the sadness of leaving made me decide to go for a drive somewhere new and quiet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemDEma_IlJL2OUo3vCS5PI6DNu_gAhOF3bXHps85ECajnzmzvbrkK-5pC9XPPNjKXwWLnO1ZAwnvhI8N5WXx6NpJTb46q3_hD5uQpRXEqwbWaOy5JNlE8IpQ-ZsvuD2ULGSVN9gCmsBQ/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemDEma_IlJL2OUo3vCS5PI6DNu_gAhOF3bXHps85ECajnzmzvbrkK-5pC9XPPNjKXwWLnO1ZAwnvhI8N5WXx6NpJTb46q3_hD5uQpRXEqwbWaOy5JNlE8IpQ-ZsvuD2ULGSVN9gCmsBQ/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I drove, towards where I hoped there would be a surprise church at the end of a long road. My friend Louise told me about how she found it some time ago and I had really wanted to find it too. So, with general directions in mind, off I set.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSodtn1g6iUu7_ANXpU_Fggm2NBZIGTKVzeu_sXXsq732oLu81a3f1J9DJYKA0ixS1Wkq-VM58kFm0ISbSjmWVgpDYCXUyUclK1UxjfX7WhU_z7L5IL0JoD8d1FHNlaU14PFTzPqdOCFU/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSodtn1g6iUu7_ANXpU_Fggm2NBZIGTKVzeu_sXXsq732oLu81a3f1J9DJYKA0ixS1Wkq-VM58kFm0ISbSjmWVgpDYCXUyUclK1UxjfX7WhU_z7L5IL0JoD8d1FHNlaU14PFTzPqdOCFU/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After about 25 minutes of driving through peaceful tribu, over hill and dale, just when I thought I was on the wrong road - a lovely church appeared, poking it's tall steeple through the top of the jungle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3rUUsIuhyZmzxtzWQireFBUohFvGnZ8WtyOIYW_y8YklsUF3mbi2G7KHZMynHWzuC6mVjCsY5orKENTKx7j_U-JirqR0aAavIj24G39y1Rg-gXVxk3N-d3Z00JmZ9rQDzjN1tiktFS0/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3rUUsIuhyZmzxtzWQireFBUohFvGnZ8WtyOIYW_y8YklsUF3mbi2G7KHZMynHWzuC6mVjCsY5orKENTKx7j_U-JirqR0aAavIj24G39y1Rg-gXVxk3N-d3Z00JmZ9rQDzjN1tiktFS0/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately it was locked, but<i> l'eglise de Tiaoué</i> was just what I needed to get my mind calm enough, my thoughts in order and shake a little of the blues away.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDevforv7hOvkA_7ndIcVloL9j6ZqV0K0Ul96s5INoqO9gyQzqYyHnx85mH6Tf5Z24fMJLvim_ldUxeRlSxJYnrPFIM03ihgoidIZcerpDJlxPwqtcs-O-tjkglWo7s1m76QnPWwys_jg/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDevforv7hOvkA_7ndIcVloL9j6ZqV0K0Ul96s5INoqO9gyQzqYyHnx85mH6Tf5Z24fMJLvim_ldUxeRlSxJYnrPFIM03ihgoidIZcerpDJlxPwqtcs-O-tjkglWo7s1m76QnPWwys_jg/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I never knew that such lush valleys were so close to us, with beautiful creeks, idyllic <i>cases</i>, the occasional dog or goat on the road amongst a sea of jungle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We leave Pouembout in exactly a week. In this turmoil, there can be calm.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0Tiaoue, New Caledonia-21.0023814 164.91722359999994-21.0097934 164.90713859999994 -20.994969400000002 164.92730859999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-51360936858563499722015-04-20T14:32:00.000+10:002015-04-20T14:32:09.038+10:00The L-word, the G-word and me.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH-d3tSLQFt9nT_PyBkxNQ3Y89kbr5GXE_AIiFElWfOduAi5iKBL_VTWhR-EP1VbRdz0NOWZ_1xUbXcDurAhgfmIWcE_DGyTETnqYLIDC9Sv2aoMBGJim191DWsN4dzGCLFXujkm1Kz4/s1600/drum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH-d3tSLQFt9nT_PyBkxNQ3Y89kbr5GXE_AIiFElWfOduAi5iKBL_VTWhR-EP1VbRdz0NOWZ_1xUbXcDurAhgfmIWcE_DGyTETnqYLIDC9Sv2aoMBGJim191DWsN4dzGCLFXujkm1Kz4/s1600/drum.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This morning I had to give myself a stern talking-to and push past the part of me which loathes goodbyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The kids went back to school today for <i>trimestre deux </i>(oh, how I only just made it through these holidays!) and I had to meet the school director to give him our final attendance date and then run around to finalise the payment of <i>cantine. </i>And since my French is <i>tres mal</i>, it required meeting a friend to help translate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because of this, I had to cancel what has become part of my Monday routine: hosting drum lessons. Which meant a friend would host instead. Which meant I could have done my chores this morning and then gone home and pretended drumming has finished for me, given that it would be my second-to-last week, and I wouldn't have to talk about the L-word. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Leaving</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it's close pal, the G-word. Hello, <i>goodbye</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I argued with myself in the car heading back from Koné, having just emptied my wallet of <i>pieces</i> and borrowed 300f from my friend in order to avoid writing a cheque which may not clear before we close our account. I could just go home. Make coffee. Quietly keep on with the packing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or I could go home, put my coffee in my carry-cup and just be a little late for practice. And have <i>fun</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I chose fun. Yay me! And though the discussion around *leaving* and even more, what will we do/where will we live etc was prominent, it was okay. I suppressed the fear and anxiety. Filed under 'deal with later'. Great coping!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was sad to talk about future plans for the group. To be sitting outside on a breezy, fine autumn morning in the back blocks of Koné, knowing it has finality which is right <i>there</i>. To be drumming well, finding my groove and be told that I will be missed. And to know I will miss <i>this</i>, this moment of doing something refreshing and joyeous and for no other reason than because I like it and dammit, I'm good at it. But it has to end. Bahhhh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leaving is hard and goodbyes a bitch because we don't want to fun to stop. Leaving is easy when there's no enjoyment. So it's a credit to New Caledonia and all the amazing people who have been part of our lives for the past 3 years that my gut response is to just pretend it's not happening and walk away and ignore the pain of parting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wrote a couple of years ago <a href="http://www.myfrenchlife.org/2013/03/14/bonjour-et-au-revoir-expat-friendship-in-tropical-france/"><b>here</b></a> about being on the opposite side, of having to say goodbye to friends leaving NC and returning to Australia. Now we are them, and I understand it better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I hate goodbyes but bring them on. Perhaps the pain is therapy and the tears help to wash it away. The talking makes it real so that I can't ignore it. And the drumming helps to find the groove that will transport me, and the beat will keep me going to the next adventure.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-13277919669845180572015-04-10T13:23:00.000+10:002015-04-10T13:23:02.528+10:00My funny girl.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rbq3qDpdcs-lDkQv988gkogxs-E7BztKerNol1wAuBfRs_C-NAWZBk1XoZcoGHt4k-AmRGHD7vylzl3s5cLJLNPGvex1SKSDCAtKittwYSUqW2m26YsvXl085LMxOiQOA-Uo_-D_wu8/s1600/IMG_1597crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rbq3qDpdcs-lDkQv988gkogxs-E7BztKerNol1wAuBfRs_C-NAWZBk1XoZcoGHt4k-AmRGHD7vylzl3s5cLJLNPGvex1SKSDCAtKittwYSUqW2m26YsvXl085LMxOiQOA-Uo_-D_wu8/s1600/IMG_1597crop.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Lately I've written a lot about Jack, for good reason. But this morning I realised that my four year old daughter Nellie is doing a great job of coping with everything our circumstances throw at her.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nellie has spent more of her life living in New Caledonia than Australia. She was a chubby 18 month old when we arrived. She slept in a cot, ate in a highchair and ate rocks off the driveway. Now she's four and hardly ever eats rocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So she's sort of more New Caledonian than Australian. She doesn't remember our old house in Sandringham or our two dogs, who she's scared of when she sees them at my mother-in-law's house. She's more familiar with having a 'bonne sieste' than a nap and her speech is a mix of English and French.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nellie also loves to talk. Actually both of my kids do. But Nellie also loves to sing. She can sing and sing and sing. I don't like asking her to stop but sometimes, for sanity's sake, I ask her to sing quietly or in her room. But I tell her I do love her singing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days ago she wanted to sing me a song in French. In her pajamas. I must admit I didn't understand most of it and it goes waaaaaaaaaay too long but her dedication and acting prowess is evident. I think it's a mashup of songs from school and her own composition. She gets a bit stuck a couple of times but it's very expressive. I don't expect you to watch it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just about every day she has a song for me like this. Life with Nellie is fun and I truly cherish these funny moments. I hope you enjoy Nellie's song.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-33952759988717967402015-04-02T13:26:00.002+11:002015-04-02T13:26:19.681+11:00Our experience :: living in NC with a disabled child (part 4)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdZCr78EmJVoWVKHpqgKzEibZf4i7QjQpRy-8rADb3cM_jZKDUJt-NPw2AeuDg7blNurAib6BcZfKZNomAXLLYx-66e5N5we21Bu3YZmanZYJtTDCUwgmOjl5hYKGb0cg1xspMsR29DM/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdZCr78EmJVoWVKHpqgKzEibZf4i7QjQpRy-8rADb3cM_jZKDUJt-NPw2AeuDg7blNurAib6BcZfKZNomAXLLYx-66e5N5we21Bu3YZmanZYJtTDCUwgmOjl5hYKGb0cg1xspMsR29DM/s1600/079.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here we are on my final post about our experience of being expats in New Caledonia and how we manage daily life with our six-year-old son who has Cerebral Palsy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You probably thought I'd forgotton about this post, being the final one in this series. To be honest, I'd put it off because right now endings are very much front-of-mind for me. This week I've had a girly sook twice after dropping the kids at school, thinking about how our time here is ending soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back to business. So far I've covered school, which occupies much of Jack's time, and therapy. Today I will finish off with briefly covering the general topic of accessibility on this particular French tropical island.</span><br />
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<u>So, accessibility.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I touched on when writing about school, most of New Caledonia is not built with wheelchairs and prams in mind. Think broken or non-existent paths, heavy doors, narrow supermarket aisles. One of our local supermarkets has an upstairs section with no lift access. So I can only go to this supermarket with Jack if laundry and bathroom items aren't on the shopping list. Or alone (which, let's be honest, is the preferred method of shopping when you have small kids).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding bikes in the tropic rain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also discovered that I couldn't take Jack with me into the local post office. Once up the small ramp I am greeted by two heavy doors. While battling to hold these two doors open, which would be threatening to flip me back outside, I swallow down expletives as I try to push a loaded stroller plus a whining toddler into a space about 2 metres square, already full of a queue of people. Visiting the post office is another Mummy-only event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I only know of a couple of walking, waterfall or lookout attractions which have paved or smoothed walking tracks but none outside Noumea. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've carried Jack into only one waterfall on the east coast, which is a shame because there are lots of stunning waterfalls in that region. </span><br />
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In all the time we've been here we've not visited the iconic lookout Coeur de Voh (Heart of Voh), less than an hour from where we live. The image features in lots of tourist advertising for New Caledonia but Jack is too heavy to carry such a distance (I take solace in the fact that apparently it's not as good from the lookout and that you really need to take a helicopter flight to see it).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is not a whinge, just a fact which needs to be understood and expected.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a shame but there it is. We would encounter similar problems worldwide however I know that National Parks in Australia and many other parts of the world increasingly have wheelchair access to allow everyone to enjoy their beauty. I do hope this catches on in New Caledonia very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the bright side, destinations such as the Noumea <a href="http://www.aquarium.nc/en/">Aquarium des Lagons</a> and <a href="http://www.office-tourisme.nc/en/parc-zoologique-et-forestier-michel-corbasson">Parc Zoologique et Forestier</a> have good wheelchair access. We also had a really great experience at <a href="http://www.amedeeisland.com/">Phare Amedee</a> where there is a beach wheelchair available to borrow through the tour company which totally made our day (I wrote about that experience <a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2014/08/now-we-are-six-island-celebration.html">here</a>). The glass-bottom boat and boards with viewing windows for observing coral and fish were also great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's always worth asking about access for </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">handicapé</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> or </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">chaise roulant</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, most places will do their best to accomodate with assistance on and off boats, accessible rooms and alternative entrances where possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Noumea, one of our favourite things to do is just walk the fabulous promenade. It stretches all the way from Baie de Citron to Anse Vata and beyond. Any time of day this is easy to navigate with a wheelchair or pram (except for days where there is a swim or cycling event, then <i>nobody</i> can navigate it!). The beaches are idyllic and shaded, full of families enjoying the clear water. Picnics are everywhere. Groups of men play petanque and cafes are close to hand. We love to go out to dinner and then work off the icecream with an evening stroll, admiring the twinkling lights and spotting the occasional cruise ship leaving port. And it's totally free and accessible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We know that the world is full of obstacles for Jack. Some are small, which we will overcome. Some are going to be too big to beat. Others will take more effort, and with lateral thinking, persistence and team effort we can conquer them. This is life. Deep, huh?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ultimately New Caledonia is a great place to visit or live for a while. I really encourage it. It has made us better people in countless ways exactly because it has tested us. I guess that must be a positive thing or I wouldn't be tearing up every morning at the thought of leaving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-11070093752828830982015-03-18T10:00:00.000+11:002015-03-18T10:00:03.500+11:00Our experience :: living in NC with a disabled child (part 3)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello! This is my third post in a series which attempts to lay down some context and tips on our family's personal experience of relocating from suburban Australia to <em>la brousse</em> in northern New Caledonia. My previous posts <a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2015/03/our-experience-living-in-nc-with.html">here</a> and <a href="https://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=MRKQHkwBAAA.4LcCtfh5l65ZtAkwlFbPlg.Yi1jyFCeOKqlU14INC04jw&postId=8933525865076862123&type=POST">here</a> covered school. This time I'm moving on to therapy and medical care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The issues of therapy and medical care were top of mind for us when making the decision to come to the middle of the Coral Sea. Our son Jack needs regular physiotherapy to attend to his cerebral palsy. Although Jack has full oral control and communication skills, his condition means he can't walk independently and has poor limb and trunk control. He needs assistance with most activities including toilet and showering, mealtimes, transferring from lying to sitting to standing and in the classroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>Therapy and medical care</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have been extremely fortunate that we were recommended to an excellent <i>kinisitherapeute</i> in the nearly town of Koné. Dom and her holiday replacement Olivier have both developed a great rapport with Jack and their methods of working have helped Jack to develop confidence and strength. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day with the new wheelchair in Noumea</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For us there has not been much difference in cost of physiotherapy. In Australia we would be covered by the BetterStart system (given the allocated allowance for therapy) for Jack until age 7; here our expat insurance allowance covers most costs as well. The main difference is that we've not been able to get hydrotherapy or group therapy here so we do without and occasionally get into the pool to give Jack a good workout.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Disability equipment, especially paediatric equipment, is not readily available <em>sur le caillou</em> so all specialised equipment we have such as walkers, wheelchairs etc have been sourced from Australia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fortunately we've not needed to seek serious medical aid for Jack in New Caledonia. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are lucky that Jack doesn't suffer from complications such as epilepsy or heart problems. However f</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or school vaccinations, chest infections and the like we've visited the local </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">medecin</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, or general practitioner in our local town of Pouembout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The system for most doctors here is first in, first treated. Local GP's don't have small armies of receptionists taking appointments and frowning when you are late; instead, you take a seat (if there's one available) in the waiting room and wait. And wait. And wait. (Take a book. A good one). You take note of who's in the room when you arrive and who comes after you and wait your turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally (after you've finished your book and read every trashy French magazine available and come to the conclusion that French trashy mags are just as much a waste of time as Australian ones) it will be your turn. You will be rewarded with a relatively cheap but professional appointment. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have never come across a doctor who didn't speak English and I've always been happy with the medical service provided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our lovely local doctor charges about 4800f. Payment is directly to the doctor in cash or cheque (no credit cards, take your cheque book. Nearly every business accepts them and in fact they are extremely commonly used at the supermarkets. Good practice for the tricky spelling of French numbers. The only exception I can think of is service stations - cash or card only</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other benefit of the French medical system is that pharmacy medicines seem to be cheaper than those in Australia. When my daughter had a chest infection our local doctor wrote a prescription for paracetamol, a nasal spray, cough suppressant and antibiotic. I was alarmed, thinking the whole lot would probably set me back $80. Imagine my surprise when it all came to less than the equivalent of $20. Again, the service and assistance I've had at every pharmacy I've been to on the island has been excellent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only interaction we've had with the hospital system was actually for myself, for the urgent treatment of kidney stones. The doctor I saw was extremely proactive and made a special effort to contact the sonographer in the next town to make sure he was available (only one in the region). She then contacted the private hospital in Noumea to make sure they would be expecting me that evening. I was admitted quickly, immediately connected to an IV and in surgery the next morning. The actual hospital conditions left a little to be desired (another blog post but some funny moments) but the medical care of doctors, specialist, anaesthetist and nurses was efficient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's important to note that New Caledonia doesn't have a lot of specialist medical services. For example, I have known many expat women here to have their babies locally but not with the same level of hospital quality they might get in their home country. Those with risky or problem pregnancies have opted to return to their home countries in time to birth their babies to make sure they had adequate medical support.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is a medical clinic in our neighbouring town of Koné which is also an emergency room. There is a small hospital which also has a maternity section in the small town of Koumac, about an hour and a half to our north. We haven't used either of these services so I can't personally attest to their level of specialist care. The major hospitals, public and private, are in Noumea, over 3 hours to our south. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We returned to </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Melbourne for 3 months for the surgery and rehab following </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jack's major surgery last year. He had planned double femoral osteotomies which we knew would be sometime during our New Caledonian residency. We have travelled to Australia every 3 to 6 months for regular x-rays and medical and therapy reviews for the duration of our residency here, which is expensive but was always part of our plan. We keep in contact with all Jack's medical and therapy team via email to provide updates or if we need advice. They have all been very supportive and enthusiastic in making our situation workable. We really have been very fortunate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are planning to travel to or live in to New Caledonia it's worth knowing all of this, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition. Pharmacy medicines here have different names and even different formulations so don't expect to easily top up on your own medicine here. For example, one of my medicines is not available in the same formulation here so I top up in Australia when I return, however I find it more convenient to buy medicines such as children's paracetamol here as it's cheaper and available without prescription.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My account can only give an inkling of the therapy and medical care available. The therapists and medical staff we've interacted with have all been excellent which has made our time here so much easier. But certainly each family must make those consideration carefully and with action plans and insurance cover should something go awry. Then you can relax and enjoy the French tropical lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My last installment will be about accessibility. <em>À plus tard!</em></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-89335258650768621232015-03-16T10:00:00.000+11:002015-03-16T10:00:05.056+11:00Our experience :: living in NC with a disabled child (part two)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So this is the next part of our adventures on a French Pacific island with wheelchairs and walkers. As I write now we are watching the category 5 tropical cyclone Pam leave a path of destruction in nearby Vanuatu as it heads past the south of New Caledonia. The adventure never stops!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you didn't catch <a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2015/03/our-experience-living-in-nc-with.html">part one</a>, this series of posts is my attempt to impart a bit of firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have a normal life as an expat in New Caledonia with two small children, one of whom has cerebral palsy. It's the type of insight I searched for but failed to find when I did my own research before we embarked from Melbourne, Australia in 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another hurdle we overcame, at least partly, was access to the school <i>cantine - </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">about 20 steep steps</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. The French school system has the option to enrol for a canteen lunch, which most families do. The alternative is to pick up your children at 11.30am, home for lunch and then back at 12.30. No lunch boxes here, which is probably not a bad idea given the climate (cheese sandwiches and bananas do not do well in a hot school bag, I still have vivid memories.....). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took over 6 months to convince the school director that we needed a ramp to enable canteen access. My inquiries up to this point were usually met with typically French shrugs and mumblings of "n'est possible". Unfortunately, even with the new ramp, Jack needed to be taken out the front gate, down the street a short distance where there was no footpath, and then pushed across a sports area to the canteen. A few months later the <i>marie</i> (council) finally paved a footpath as well. So now, although the long route to lunch, it is mainly paved although still quite a bit of muscle-work for his aide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jack loves being able to stay at school for </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cantine</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. He sits with his class and is served a hot lunch. His aide eats lunch with him and helps where neccessary. After lunch he plays with his friends until classes restart. It's an opportunity we wouldn't have in Australia and we didn't want him to miss it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The experience of asking for and finally getting access to a school lunch highlighted the fact that our adopted community had not considered the possibility that wheelchair access might be needed at their school. Many Australians today would find that unusual. I think the resistance we felt in this instance was the rationale that building infrastructure for one child wasn't economical, although of course accessible ramps and paths are for the benefit of all and economics shouldn't come into it when discussing such a basic thing. We also see it as having helped to provide access for not just our child, but future children in the community with mobility difficulties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is not the case in all schools here. Two newer schools near the neighbouring town of Koné both have much better accessiblity, including lifts and handicapped parking spaces. My battle to find a carspace at our school to unload and reload the kids and the wheelchair is a weekly lesson in creative parking and muscle-building. It's a private battle that I'm not going to take further. I really can't see a handicapped parking spot being built. Some things just need to be endured!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite the challenges, the sleepless nights, the disappointments and steep learning curves, being brave enough to tackle the French/New Caledonian school system is paying off. Jack speaks French with an accent that melts my heart. His marks in maths are great. He writes in a beautiful cursive that he wouldn't be taught in Australia but which belies his fine motor skill difficulties. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He's a wonderful role model for his little sister Nellie who started at the same school last year at the age of 3. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year his reading of French has blossomed, adding to his wonderful English reading skills that we've fostered at home. And he has many friends who love him and greet him each morning with kisses (this is France, people) and cheers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next post in this series will be able how we've tackled therapy and medical care in the </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">province nord</i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> of New Caledonia. Please feel free to message me any questions or your own similar experiences, which I'd love to hear, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">below or on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/francehascoconuts?ref=hl" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">France has Coconuts Facebook page</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Á la prochain</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-35396172215466149982015-03-13T21:45:00.002+11:002015-03-13T21:45:31.841+11:00Our experience :: living in NC with a disabled child (part one)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As our time here in the French territory of New Caledonia comes to it's conclusion I have begun to reflect on how much we've learnt and how far we've come. In particular, how we've tackled the challenges presented when living with a physically disabled child in the somewhat remote reaches of the South Pacific.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we have almost 3 years of experience to relay (and in particular because I am terrible at self-editing) I'm chunking my words of wisdom (ha!) into about 4 posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;">There is nothing unique about our family except that we happen to have a child with a severe disability and we've temporarily relocated to a French tropical island. I'm not an expert on New Caledonia or disability. My husband and I don't have all the answers and we've certainly made lots of mistakes but are hopefully wiser for the experience to this point. I only share our experience in the hope that it might give some helpful insights and tips to other families contemplating a similar adventure. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">So I decided to put a few thoughts together on the type of information I would have liked before we arrived. In this post: school, part one - actually one of the scarier challenges for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>But first: some background</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you were to approach me a few years ago and ask if it would be wise to take an 18 month old little girl and an almost-four-year-old little boy with cerebral palsy from the comfortable and leafy streets of Sandringham, Melbourne, to the tropics of a small French island I'd barely heard of in the Coral Sea, I'd probably say have another skinny latte and macaron and get a grip. Your life is great. Consider a holiday in Bali.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, with almost 3 years of expat-tery under my belt, I'd still recommend the latte and macaron but also offer some background of how we've managed - mostly with smiles on our faces - the daily grind in the northern province of New Caledonia (yes, we had to check Google Maps for where it is too. For some reason most Australians are fairly unaware of the fact that France is pretty much on their doorstep).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn on our first morning in Pouembout, New Caledonia</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We arrived in New Caledonia, to the tiny, slow-moving farming and mining community of Pouembout in the week our son Jack turned 4, July 2012. Jack has quadraplegic cerebral palsy with spastic dystonia, GMFCS III-IV. At this time he was able to walk with the aid of a small walking ladder or a walker. For outings he was in a pram with his little sister. He couldn't walk independently and was in nappies full time. He had full oral control and no significant additional complications.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As well as the ladder and walker we brought a wooden corner chair, wooden kinder chair and table plus his BodyCycle tricycle and grasp bars for arm extension. We brought a slant board for drawing and a standing frame. He had his AFO splints, arm and leg wraps and a potty as we were toilet-training. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Getting Jack into the local school was a big challenge and an anxious experience for me. We needed assistance from a local organisation that specialises in helping expat families to settle. He needed to have a medical certificate from the local doctor as well as his tuberculosis vaccination, which is mandatory in New Caledonia and is given to newborns here.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack's classrooms</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I employed the assistance of a friend who translated in all the initial meetings with the school director and class teacher. One of my big concerns was the toilet situation as the children's toilets were small with no toilet seats, which would be unsuitable for Jack to have stability when sitting. Eventually the school remembered that they did in fact have a disabled toilet, only it was used as a janitor's closet, so that was tidied up. We provide a kids seat which sits under the standard seat, and take it home on Fridays for a clean and back to school each Monday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also provided the school with a wooden kinder chair which has a lap belt and a slant board to assist with writing and drawing. These were left at school until the end of school year. We also worked hard to get Jack daytime continent before he began school as the school is not equipped to deal with nappy-changing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most significantly, we had to organise a fulltime aide for Jack as he needs assistance not just with mobility but with toileting, using books and pencils and play. In New Caledonia aides to the handicapped are provided by <a href="http://unionpourlehandicap.nc/index.php?option=com_partenaires&view=fiche&Catid=9&Partid=23">Fleur de Vie</a>. For non-French citizens this comes at a price and we were lucky to find funding. Without funding we simply could not send Jack to school and in fact would have had to reconsider the whole endeavour. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack and his first aide, Emmanuelle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over the years we have had three different aides. Although none of them were specifically trained in working with handicapped children they have all been very enthusiastic and worked well with Jack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The aide meets us each morning at the school gate and effectively takes over Jack's care until the end of the school day. She does transfers between wheelchair, walker, desk chair and toilet. She changes his pants if he has an accident (happens occasionally) and helps him in the classroom and canteen. The only thing she doesn't do is teach. The only downside to this system is that if the aide is unable to work then Jack misses school as he can't be at school without assistance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Understand that this was also the first time I'd entered a child into a school system. Jack left a wonderful childcare centre in Melbourne which was providing us with 3 full days a week of kinder plus a full-time aide. Leaving there was difficult as we had great support from both staff and other families. Entering him into the Victorian school system and navigating my way through finding an aide, accessibility, equipment etc would have been nerve-wracking enough. But then do it in New Caledonia, in my shoddy French - it was stressful for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the biggest mistakes I made was assuming that Jack's teachers had some training in working with handicapped children. We had an upsetting experience later in Jack's first year when I mistakenly assumed his <i>maitresse</i> had him included in the choreography of his class's dance for the school <i>spectacle</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The experience left me determined to be closer to his teacher the following year. I made sure to meet with her regularly but particularly when she was planning the class choreography. I really wanted to advise on Jack's restrictions and some ideas to ensure she felt confident and could include him properly. The result was that we were all very proud of his participation, front and centre no less. More importantly Jack loved the experience and was proud of his achievement (you can view his class dance <a href="https://youtu.be/jFGqJF9j5HA">here</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next post will be another school test for me - getting some accessibility in place for Jack to access the canteen - with mixed results.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0Pouembout, New Caledonia-21.1148929 164.90041580000002-21.144518400000003 164.8600753 -21.0852674 164.94075630000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-60576751358916943862015-03-10T11:41:00.001+11:002015-03-12T10:37:39.787+11:00The end is nigh.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, more than two and a half years since being in New Caledonia, a milestone occurred. One of my children was invited to a birthday party from a local kid. It was a modest affair with his lovely friend Felix and his parents were very nice. Even better for us, they spoke English, so conversation was easy and enjoyable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sad part is that we are at the tail end of our stay in New Caledonia. We expect to leave in only a couple of months as my husband's contract comes to an end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As we get closer I feel more sadness and even a little panicky. It's been a challenging and unique period of our lives. We have been transformed from sheltered, myopic city-dwellers, our lives orbited by a cycle of long work hours, reality TV, local news and supermarket wars. We've become more aware of world politics, the reality of life on a south Pacific island, finding friendship, trying new things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've learnt to not be alarmed when a complete stranger picks up your baby and kisses and plays with them. We're confident that our kids are getting a good education at the local school, even though the infrastructure and technology is far less than in the average Australian primary school. I cherish the fact that Jack is greeted each morning by his friends with kisses or, as was the case yesterday, with nose rubs by his best friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I miss the aisles of fresh vegetables in Australian supermarkets, decadent with more that one variety of potato and with green vegetables luxuriating on beds of ice. Ice! But then, having only a simple selection of fruit and vegetables does make life easier. At least, dinner planning. The only fresh leafy vegetable in my local supermarket this morning was lettuce. So it's salad tonight. No poring over glossy foodie mags or trawling Pinterest for dinner inspiration for me tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But we do have the luxury of local prawn farms. I can buy a kilo of frozen local prawns at my local supermarket (with the fresh lettuce) any day of the week for about A$25. The price is on par with Australia and the food miles less than a Melbourne market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've learnt to appreciate the struggle that visitors and migrants to Australia have when learning and understanding English. One of the reasons I find it hard to learn French here is that people speak so quickly and use a lot of vernacular. In turn, those local who speak English with me say I do the same. It's a hard lesson learnt and a habit difficult to break.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We've learnt to appreciate French wine. Why wouldn't you when it's cheap and sold in the supermarket? But the local beer......well, we do miss Aussie beer. But you drink what's available. And 'Number One' is stupidly easy to order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But there's no returning to the navel-gazing people we once were. Being an international tourist doesn't do it. I did that. And I still didn't get it. But I do now. About how occupying all of my preoccuations to whether we need pay TV, or what haircut I should have, at getting the cheapest petrol, whether to buy a Thermomix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The only pay TV available to me is mostly in French, I haven't cut my hair in 6 months, petrol prices are regulated here and I don't have enough storage for a Thermomix. But I do care that there is only a couple of orthotists in all of New Caledonia, that the world heritage-listed reef here is being rapidly destroyed (a fact ignored by most of the world) and that incest is prevalent in indigenous tribes here, as it is in Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So our next venture, whatever it is, we be an ADventure. We will make it so. By our new outlook on life, our approach to the local community and our understanding of the opportunities life holds, no matter where we live.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-85458326531910097722014-12-26T13:31:00.000+11:002014-12-26T13:31:22.227+11:00New Caledonia gave us this moment.<br />
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Lately there have been mixed feelings in our house. We learnt a few weeks ago that my husband's work contract will expire in April 2015, so we will be moving on from New Caledonia.<br />
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This has prompted in me a range of emotions, and each day I oscillate from excited to nervous to regretful to quite sad. This is a reflection of the challenges, opportunities and joy felt since we moved here in July 2012.<br />
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Take my son Jack as an example. Jack turned 4 the week we arrived. He has spastic quadraplegic cerebral palsy with dystonia. He needs assistance or intervention to do most things from the neck down. He requires specialised furniture, a wheelchair, walker, footwear, commode, bike, stroller and physical therapy. We left a very supportive family, friends, medical and therapy network to come to a country where wheelchair access is haphazard and experienced therapists difficult to find. The sight of a child in a wheelchair or walker is rare, especially in the small farming and mining community where we live.<br />
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We weren't sure if we were being brave or just plain irresponsible about our son's health and potential. In fact I'm pretty sure there were many who thought the latter.<br />
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One of the driving factors for us, assuming we could address Jack's physical needs, was the opportunity to integrate both Jack and his little sister Nellie into the modest, local school and experience French language immersion in a mixed group of cultures. There have been some frustrations with organising an aide, plus access within a school not used to wheelchairs, but it has paid off in ways I couldn't have imagined before. We have discovered a community intrigued and surprised by Jack, but proud to include him in their number.<br />
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It's his ability with picking up French which constantly delights us as parents. His accent is delightful. His confidence defies his genes. And he just plain enjoys it. Bliss.<br />
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This morning out of the blue, he sang me a Christmas song he learnt at school. I asked him to sing it again so I could record it and share.The next challenge is how to retain and build on this lovely new skill he has once we leave the island....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-78800439866199234592014-09-13T08:00:00.000+10:002014-09-13T08:00:04.814+10:00When family visit sur le caillou :: Pt 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the final part of our short sojourn with visiting family members a few weeks ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the benefits of having family visit, if you can wrangle it, is having them babysit for a few hours. We were lucky enough to be able to ditch the kids on an idyllic beach with my husbands parents and take in a halfday tour on a <em>pirogue</em>, or traditional outrigger canoe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We boarded the canoe at the bottom of Baie de Saint Jacques and travelled up the bay via wind power. There the other passengers, who were continuing on foot to Baie d'Oro for a full day tour, waded to shore. We remained on the canoe while our guide brought down the sail and we returned to the bottom of the bay under two-stroke power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The return trip was quite different as the light had changed and by then the tide was markedly lower, showing a completely altered aspect of the bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We were so fortunate to squeeze this experience into our visit, and are grateful to our babysitters for the opportunity. Definitely do it if you can.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0L'Île-des-Pins, New Caledonia-22.650264896764316 167.52056121826172-22.657591896764316 167.51047621826172 -22.642937896764316 167.53064621826172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-73639328554370064682014-09-12T08:00:00.000+10:002014-09-12T08:00:03.391+10:00When family visit sur le caillou :: Pt 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We recently spent two nights on the amazing Isle of Pines. We were so lucky with the weather, which was mild but sunny. It allowed us to enjoy the stunning beaches for a while, and get our toes into the soft, fine sand. We stayed at Oure Tera, on Kunamera Beach, on the south coast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We will be back.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-50867439785728230622014-09-11T10:10:00.000+10:002014-09-11T10:25:02.289+10:00When family visit sur le caillou :: Pt 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The last few weeks have been busy. Rob has been busy with work, the kids right into school, and just as school holidays arrived, I unexpectedly ended up in hospital for a few days. We needed a holiday!</span><a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even though we live in New Caledonia we haven't had a proper holiday since we've been here. When we return to Australia it's always a blur of hospital and medical appointments, driving hours to visit family and squeezing in some shopping to restock basics. Our getaways are the long-weekend kind, usually to one of the 'resorts' in the north of the French territory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As part of the Isle of Pines holiday we also took in a short <em>pilogue</em> or outrigger outing which provided a great chance to take some more pics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So behold, a few snaps from Part One of 'Getaways with the Parents-in-Law'.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-73395682447965112572014-08-02T12:13:00.000+10:002014-09-11T10:29:31.594+10:00Le Grande Marche de Pouembout.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5GjR9xZHxQH9JNjLVxLmpwMJZCrvnUSBwv5h1ovUqsn9aTUEg3Uqp1zUiQf6Eky8BCg3jVCtqGHy1EjjSfjrjqIzitauGSUMdVIoH6sdp4xg5GB6fWa87ryWENwN2jO3Zt8rlwzouA/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5GjR9xZHxQH9JNjLVxLmpwMJZCrvnUSBwv5h1ovUqsn9aTUEg3Uqp1zUiQf6Eky8BCg3jVCtqGHy1EjjSfjrjqIzitauGSUMdVIoH6sdp4xg5GB6fWa87ryWENwN2jO3Zt8rlwzouA/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today is the Grande Marche in Pouembout. Enjoy these sunny images of Province Nord on display.</span><a name='more'></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-90326608529387856102014-08-01T11:02:00.003+10:002014-09-11T14:07:51.307+10:00Now we are six :: an island celebration.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The past months in my blog absence have included some physical and mental challenges for our family. We've all been learning about ourselves and there have been some new understandings of how things are and how they may be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Included in this was major surgery for our son Jack. While we know the long-term outcome of his surgery will be beneficial and prolong his ability to have some mobility and delay joint problems, the reality of the excruciating slowness of his recovery sometimes challenges our patience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For this reason we decided to go somewhere to celebrate Jack's 6th birthday last weekend, and take a day trip to Amedee Island, 20km south of Noumea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The island is a lot smaller than I imagined, taking only about half an hour to walk end to end and only 5 minutes across its middle. The island is famous for it's lighthouse, or <em>phare</em>, shipped from France and assembled in 1865, providing guidance into only one of 3 natural entrances to the reef.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The other reason people flock to Amedee is the reef itself. It has a dazzling array of sealife, including seasnakes, turtles and fish species, offering a spectacle to snorklers and divers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One of the best things for us was being able to use the beach wheelchair which the island offers free of charge to those with disabilities. This made getting along the beach and into the water a lot easier for us.</span><br />
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We booked our day trip via <a href="http://www.amedeeisland.com/">http://www.amedeeisland.com</a> and made use of the internet special.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0Amédée Islet, New Caledonia-22.4767717 166.46896100000004-22.4804397 166.46391850000003 -22.4731037 166.47400350000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-45290302427634094312013-12-18T16:38:00.003+11:002014-09-11T14:09:05.230+10:00:: Le Jardin du Pere Noel and a special treat ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last night Jack was treated to something special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We visited le Jardin du Pere Noel in Anse Vata, Noumea. This is a house which for over 20 years has been transformed into a dedication to Christmas for the whole month of December. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every outdoor space and every external room is packed with Christmas paraphernalia, including countless Santas, angels, snowmen, statues of Jesus and Mary, Disney characters, children's movie characters and moving toys. Lights twinkle and cascade over every part, including the roof. Garfield and Oui Oui (Noddy to English speakers) occupy the driveway. Harry Potter shares the backyard with Buzz Lightyear and toy ducks, rabbits and cupids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were mingling in the crowd of families admiring the many details (and wondering at the Enercal bill) when the gentleman helped create this unique New Caledonian marvel spotted Jack in his wheelie and took him past the crowds in the front door of the house into the front room. This room held a miniature snowy village and a train set and Jack loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His closeup view and VIP treatment was a surprise but it made his night, with Nellie more than a little jealous from the sidelines!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you get the chance this is a great treat and something which is not common in New Caledonia.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-88717153605561114512013-11-29T21:31:00.000+11:002013-11-29T21:31:47.537+11:00It's been a while...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have been a bad girl. Neglecting my blog for almost 6 months - the shame!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Although it's not like I haven't had distractions. We had a quick visit to Melbourne with Jack for medical visits to organise and do. Nellie to be enrolled in school. My French Life articles to research, photograph and write. Perpetual internet hassles, which is one of the biggest distractions from writing a blog, where a quick post becomes a whole day headache. I've started drumming with a group of great people. My own health challenges. Blah, blah, blah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But now we find ourselves at the pointy end of the year. School will be finished soon and I have to prepare, mentally more than anything else, that my almost-3 year old baby will be joining the chaotic hordes at the local school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had a couple of hours orientation with her in the 'petite maternelle' class a couple of weeks ago, the non-French speaking kid in the room. My head knows she will cope, but I will worry every day until I pick her up at 11.30 each morning. And then, when she doesn't need the afternoon 'sieste', she will be full-time like her big brother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She will sing, dance, draw, play dolls, be assertive, follow the pack, eat lunch, make friends. I do worry about the toilets. Despite the fact that she is pretty much daytime toilet-trained, her first attempt at using one of the toilets was a fair disaster. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the bathroom, which resembles a miniature prison toilet block (no seats, toilets all in a row with no privacy walls, round fountain-like washbasin in the centre of the room) she had trouble sitting by herself on the little toilet. Cue mess. Need to work on that. We have a few months.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGheOStP64xRjXZE-dJJy4ppf6GqrTz3h-VfMVGjMyKszkzNqIQdartDZyTMHh8FuUsLwzwv9xpj5KubNn51xA6sKDPY50hLS0hM-rBLqJ5IsrqXTa49QUDP8qJMZu4Vn4LyPJR6L2JnM/s1600/P1030666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGheOStP64xRjXZE-dJJy4ppf6GqrTz3h-VfMVGjMyKszkzNqIQdartDZyTMHh8FuUsLwzwv9xpj5KubNn51xA6sKDPY50hLS0hM-rBLqJ5IsrqXTa49QUDP8qJMZu4Vn4LyPJR6L2JnM/s400/P1030666.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jack, on the other hand, as the only wheelchair using child at the school, will be using the canteen for lunch next year. Again, this presents mixed feelings for me. Firstly because it means he is cast into the crazy, noisy, messy school lunch system, which for a kid who can be picky occasionally, will be interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But it also means that he is reliant on his carer to make sure he can manage it - seating, eating, cutting up food, taking his cup from home as he can't use the school ones - plus the toileting. It's a fair job. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the other hand, it means half the wheelchair-lifting for me. I can't pretend I'm not excited about that. That bugger is heavy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perhaps the biggest impact that Jack will have on the school in the next few months is that they will be spending the Christmas holidays building a very big ramp for Jack to actually access the canteen. The school is built on a hill and the school buildings split across 3 levels. Jack's classroom is on the middle level and his carer has to push him up a large ramp to access the classrooms and playgrounds on the upper level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The canteen is on the lower level, currently only accessed by about 20 steep steps. I will be tracking progress of the new canteen ramp with interest. Jack's time at the Pouembout school will be felt long after he leaves, hopefully helping lots of other people access the canteen as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, into the Christmas crazies. A plus tard!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-67105617534670008722013-06-11T16:08:00.003+10:002013-06-11T16:08:42.308+10:00French tropical churches: lastest article now published.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv_8Flxv90zH5c3ricQ9r2sDbcZc6ZTkN1VkfnM3s0nPH25u0Nv1UtvM-ogYR-GCP5gVp1Ce5BYd7dyS9I4YZFrCw4POi1pBs4lxjmTq2u-6UiI2YtS-evYAQkbXLxBpNYDymoAKJKPg/s1600/P1030006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv_8Flxv90zH5c3ricQ9r2sDbcZc6ZTkN1VkfnM3s0nPH25u0Nv1UtvM-ogYR-GCP5gVp1Ce5BYd7dyS9I4YZFrCw4POi1pBs4lxjmTq2u-6UiI2YtS-evYAQkbXLxBpNYDymoAKJKPg/s320/P1030006.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvWhA4acvgWTbfzpRBdpZK7RrxzX54NNnv3k60buDrzJVdtmK5bPWBvQVS75q4pI9EbB_GNmzb1zPQcs9Zjr9r_wOag-R29zJ8q7yMHFzEFbnQOGJnkS5zuD1yniQ_QkkQx-mkbgo3QE/s1600/P1030094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvWhA4acvgWTbfzpRBdpZK7RrxzX54NNnv3k60buDrzJVdtmK5bPWBvQVS75q4pI9EbB_GNmzb1zPQcs9Zjr9r_wOag-R29zJ8q7yMHFzEFbnQOGJnkS5zuD1yniQ_QkkQx-mkbgo3QE/s320/P1030094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I may be in Australia for a few weeks but that doesn't stop my article from being published.<a name='more'></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrpiykiTKTdkSwF0JDSw8yexzU7NtTdqh3-RL7g85IoFxTChsbo11SGA5PlWjBKnUMwoAqTsCtDa3T9sFMFM1saFKjT4NGDMbHxG_u2AR1YYsk00dWmOqt7mTEKTSkW6aHsEkPYeCDi8/s1600/P1030072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrpiykiTKTdkSwF0JDSw8yexzU7NtTdqh3-RL7g85IoFxTChsbo11SGA5PlWjBKnUMwoAqTsCtDa3T9sFMFM1saFKjT4NGDMbHxG_u2AR1YYsk00dWmOqt7mTEKTSkW6aHsEkPYeCDi8/s320/P1030072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last month we got up to the north-east coast, a fabulously lush part of the world where New Caledonians escape to enjoy the waterfalls and beaches.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6zQFLc5ZMfCpttLtIIfwTZ0C-E5lKJ-Va79wdLp-93HW1Yaz9f1kusUIEXxN3brp2AAc_F5kKdHmL9rRYpxGN_KZlX7PK8sQMfXYTY72V7OtDnLH2wq5Ll1ITGnVfUTDbhoppr9pUxk/s1600/P1030133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6zQFLc5ZMfCpttLtIIfwTZ0C-E5lKJ-Va79wdLp-93HW1Yaz9f1kusUIEXxN3brp2AAc_F5kKdHmL9rRYpxGN_KZlX7PK8sQMfXYTY72V7OtDnLH2wq5Ll1ITGnVfUTDbhoppr9pUxk/s320/P1030133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was inspired by the many churches along the way and took a few photos and put together an article for </span><a href="http://myfrenchlife.org/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My French Life</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. If you visit, it is worth the extra effort to get up there. </span><a href="http://www.myfrenchlife.org/2013/06/11/churches-of-the-french-tropics-a-story-of-charm-and-history/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You can find the article here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGeBBB8hR9Z0G3y1njCKow1JQtL50M-SttTFVhja0CsUXbwTm0bx2rr54Kur25Dr1ekNa-DXth3mxV55XSYaWC_XNL9chvaUse1POEym2liuXfF-fPxMZowI1SYVMCgWzzuzY5a1PCBY/s1600/P1030034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGeBBB8hR9Z0G3y1njCKow1JQtL50M-SttTFVhja0CsUXbwTm0bx2rr54Kur25Dr1ekNa-DXth3mxV55XSYaWC_XNL9chvaUse1POEym2liuXfF-fPxMZowI1SYVMCgWzzuzY5a1PCBY/s320/P1030034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the meantime, these are a few previously unpublished photos to give you a taste.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-78130389549067632592013-05-03T20:57:00.000+10:002013-05-03T20:59:49.891+10:00April, as it were.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7zt0L9nyxpLk1Gm_4OcMgfewYIFFm6NHsKsuEJnKFjapEyvoVBT0iMp-eGjtpfT8nq5wxXQvbduF0ISEbWqIaUTklsIXbq0tZ2SQIE70kvK0X7rNPjPuK_Rtl8gcKtIctdqqWesXCoU/s1600/P1020592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7zt0L9nyxpLk1Gm_4OcMgfewYIFFm6NHsKsuEJnKFjapEyvoVBT0iMp-eGjtpfT8nq5wxXQvbduF0ISEbWqIaUTklsIXbq0tZ2SQIE70kvK0X7rNPjPuK_Rtl8gcKtIctdqqWesXCoU/s320/P1020592.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P8pl4rqdR23bHShxFIwdC95OuD6zzLzm6jsVW1shx664bUqRRkZ2mjgNkGIQU2Qi9QLc-FtBBjtyAxJsxEeN5nMWcqTJlnUHbfOX8Sm_M4fFRIAowpCWR4awijO47a76WOISDROenN4/s1600/P1020756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P8pl4rqdR23bHShxFIwdC95OuD6zzLzm6jsVW1shx664bUqRRkZ2mjgNkGIQU2Qi9QLc-FtBBjtyAxJsxEeN5nMWcqTJlnUHbfOX8Sm_M4fFRIAowpCWR4awijO47a76WOISDROenN4/s320/P1020756.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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April was surprisingly eventful. It began in Noumea, brought a distinct change in the weather, and also delivered us a schoolboy (read about it so far <a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2013/04/maintenant-je-suis-un-etudiant.html">here</a> and <a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-week-in-life-of-us.html">here</a>).</div>
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Nellie got wheels, as did Rob. The change in weather has allowed us more access to the garden, and we are reaping tomatoes.<br />
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I began a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/francehascoconuts">France has coconuts Facebook page</a> to more easily upload everyday images - make sure you 'like' it!</div>
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I hope you enjoyed the photos.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-2737834095124579022013-04-26T18:40:00.000+10:002013-04-26T18:51:57.841+10:00A week in the life of Us.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAqkM0FwbtBr7QgANuHaKPqZopzj6HsIQY7UvIkPRWtAjv6_DXqCQminMbGOauKuFVCUSFRbbVvr7XoRz6ypoInCWBPcFpLSpuyCriJXb2ad9pmO1tuwyem_zxY83VnTmk-fylUX_1gk/s1600/P1020619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAqkM0FwbtBr7QgANuHaKPqZopzj6HsIQY7UvIkPRWtAjv6_DXqCQminMbGOauKuFVCUSFRbbVvr7XoRz6ypoInCWBPcFpLSpuyCriJXb2ad9pmO1tuwyem_zxY83VnTmk-fylUX_1gk/s400/P1020619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A big week in our household this week. School has entered our lives. We are now one of the gazillions of families who juggle the school drop-offs and pickups, exchange pleasantries and sidelong glances with other parents waiting at the school gate and worry about school marks and nits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Or at least,<em> I</em> am. I get out of bed now at 6am (okay, maybe closer to 6.15am) when Rob leaves for work (he <em>does</em> leave at 6am, or even earlier), so I can shower and get dressed by 6.45 when I get the kids out of bed. All out the door by 7.40am so I can get a decent wheelchair-unloadable carpark at 7.45 when the hoardes arrive for school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://francehascoconuts.blogspot.com/2013/04/maintenant-je-suis-un-etudiant.html">I wrote on Monday</a> about the momentous first deliverance of our son to our local school. And I'm happy to report that, apart from having to work through toiletting challenges, which I believe are now resolved, we've had a pretty uneventful, and in my mind successful, first week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Yay!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglisxEPmVcFEEvbl2-PHe8q7SLcp7-xnf1f8xGQHJkFircAdYgATu6W-s6tUZfyi-qMGRcB7NSp_97-63RIDyVOpxjF85LaNUortTWI0pEzf1o_R7qSfnBot64WJW9Gh6lGtNFlk0EwI/s1600/P1020697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglisxEPmVcFEEvbl2-PHe8q7SLcp7-xnf1f8xGQHJkFircAdYgATu6W-s6tUZfyi-qMGRcB7NSp_97-63RIDyVOpxjF85LaNUortTWI0pEzf1o_R7qSfnBot64WJW9Gh6lGtNFlk0EwI/s400/P1020697.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuelle with the kids</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We've still to overcome the niggling issue of language, but being only 4 and with the lovely young elastic brain inside Jack's lovely head, and our French tutor, I'm sure we can make great inroads in the next few months. Jack's starting school has also restarted my own bumpy journey into learning French (I <em>really</em> recommend <a href="http://radiolingua.com/shows/french/coffee-break-french/">these free podcasts</a>! My saviour!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Loading and unloading is about a 10 minute event. On Monday Jack will go to school with wheelchair, walker, toiletseat, and possibly a stool. Oh, and schoolbag. We took his customised deskchair last Monday to leave there for the term. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Emmanuelle arrives at 8am after dropping her own girls at school in nearby Koné, and Nellie and I are a girls club for a few hours until 11.30am when we pick up Jack and go home. Jack is a morning-only school kid for the next few months - hopefully he can go fulltime by the end of the year, tiredness and impending surgery-recovery notwithstanding.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18rxMwiCfue2Y8CKIU-tuMQpeY7zBcNDhguhF2qr7o0QLN2Gy_nLezyKrI7GbkBm2I-upusGo51lCT5ymgRVCWoHSRnGdVr95JGsMdj9xbqtiTa-MqG6B-9DjcryK3gOcR1QqzR9ba3w/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18rxMwiCfue2Y8CKIU-tuMQpeY7zBcNDhguhF2qr7o0QLN2Gy_nLezyKrI7GbkBm2I-upusGo51lCT5ymgRVCWoHSRnGdVr95JGsMdj9xbqtiTa-MqG6B-9DjcryK3gOcR1QqzR9ba3w/s640/PicMonkey+Collage+2604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Also this week I started my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/francehascoconuts">France has coconuts Facebook page</a>. This gives me a better chance to post little things, especially photos, without doing a whole blog post. With the interwebby thing a bit tenous for me here, what with just me and my dongle, posting can be R.E.A.L.L.Y.S.L.O.W. so actually FB is my friend in this department. I'd love it if you share with anyone you think might be interested as it is a ''blog page not a 'friend page' as such (not that I don't adore my FB friends!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Also this week we:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">picked tomatoes from the garden</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">found a scary red centipede on Jack's bed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">had a frog jump on rob's head as he slept</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">had a bulldozer-scoop-load of composted pigpoo delivered for the garden</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">started a post school-dropoff ritual of Nellie giving our local boulanger the 100f for our baguette (he thinks she is <em>trés mignonne</em> and riotously funny)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">have discovered previously unknown wheelchair muscles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">made a quick visit to the beach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bon weekend!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-88081344522859227542013-04-22T08:32:00.000+10:002013-04-22T08:32:15.242+10:00Maintenant, je suis un étudiant<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcrUCayt3Aq1coM7SH4_BZ6G6feNi6xfHSyfFY_Oei95isbQlOpG2lkLdZTNaS5TG9csgdFigjG49eKtCPuKGZc-gnQi9UNvh294fR10RhX6Zu_h0-5GylIjIq8Qn-G2-VMuIBy3otE0/s1600/P1020620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcrUCayt3Aq1coM7SH4_BZ6G6feNi6xfHSyfFY_Oei95isbQlOpG2lkLdZTNaS5TG9csgdFigjG49eKtCPuKGZc-gnQi9UNvh294fR10RhX6Zu_h0-5GylIjIq8Qn-G2-VMuIBy3otE0/s640/P1020620.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A milestone this morning as Jack, our 4 1/2 year old son, went to school this morning for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">An event for any child and parent, but for us all the more special as Jack has severe quadraplegic cerebral palsy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He went in his first wheelchair, with his walker, his modified school chair and a specialised stool. He was pushed by his carer, Emmanuelle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE9GBP8Kc7s1ly2-nG_UqtgVG_zMnRk1K4r0kD65Ik8FYA8fDvZbERgR34D41JFMn6B4DcNQExiLiSFfFt29Mb3P578Xrs75t2Sc_ouOiFF08RPxujM5I1ShjV7gKklHyFuv4MXbhwSM/s1600/P1020618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE9GBP8Kc7s1ly2-nG_UqtgVG_zMnRk1K4r0kD65Ik8FYA8fDvZbERgR34D41JFMn6B4DcNQExiLiSFfFt29Mb3P578Xrs75t2Sc_ouOiFF08RPxujM5I1ShjV7gKklHyFuv4MXbhwSM/s320/P1020618.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjZXVBhfOes0m4AO3hLJrxlRHux4lxj6oO3ae-ku2Bdi0D_aHEY0CmoEJIPa9GA-BrWK8EHbe0jj0AeCbu1kRZsJMcWlGS7Lint9EIeaZqRnJj07Wstyjq2zpza6_8WULCX9eYrVXL2M/s1600/P1020616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjZXVBhfOes0m4AO3hLJrxlRHux4lxj6oO3ae-ku2Bdi0D_aHEY0CmoEJIPa9GA-BrWK8EHbe0jj0AeCbu1kRZsJMcWlGS7Lint9EIeaZqRnJj07Wstyjq2zpza6_8WULCX9eYrVXL2M/s320/P1020616.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But here's the even more extraordinary part - his first day at school in at a school in a foreign country. Where only French is spoken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In <em>la petite ville</em> of Pouembout, New Caledonia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, a big day. The significance is lost on Jack, who was excited simply for the anticipatory thrill of being in a group of children again, not having been in childcare since July last year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">To say he needed some company and some mental challenges in the intervening 9 months as we settled into our new home in New Caledonia is an understatement. Opportunities to mix with local kids has been difficult. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmkflKx64sLPgccTjVRAPjCDLaBU8Rrcpx4j36zGENwgqkmj9mqwm6xwe8ZHS29uXKuogZiag0Y1d9H1OM-3mKKIy7m60MZy7lfUNR0o0XRx_Uu2Oiv_VOvS9p8Bs3hChoVOtpiReV9s/s1600/P1020621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmkflKx64sLPgccTjVRAPjCDLaBU8Rrcpx4j36zGENwgqkmj9mqwm6xwe8ZHS29uXKuogZiag0Y1d9H1OM-3mKKIy7m60MZy7lfUNR0o0XRx_Uu2Oiv_VOvS9p8Bs3hChoVOtpiReV9s/s640/P1020621.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For me the nerves were high as we arrived early to meet his carer and get Jack's equipment organised in his new classroom. But I soon took the cue that it was time for 'maman' to leave - and leave Jack to his new independence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Goodbye Mummy - <em>bonjour tout le monde</em>!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-27764380767295807442013-04-16T12:14:00.000+10:002013-04-16T12:14:26.494+10:00A slow week with food for the soul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8gbfDB6u4FsxcTik6r31wPE4-rPpNpdLQojlUV74Ocr8Bhu6Bc2VsFi3VqWOip8JHU2jJn2U1ecVkmOLnSw9ZQZ6a4whHSSobm3YjX4JqBJ6Xog4MfnLOtIDkZUQyCDf_CUmzP_v-70/s1600/413_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8gbfDB6u4FsxcTik6r31wPE4-rPpNpdLQojlUV74Ocr8Bhu6Bc2VsFi3VqWOip8JHU2jJn2U1ecVkmOLnSw9ZQZ6a4whHSSobm3YjX4JqBJ6Xog4MfnLOtIDkZUQyCDf_CUmzP_v-70/s400/413_l.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/413/chargrilled+steak+with+caponata">Chargrilled steak with caponata</a> via <a href="http://taste.com.au/">taste.com.au</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bonjour à tous!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This week has begun on a quiet note. I haven't been feeling 100% the past few days so I've been taking it quietly (hard to explain that to a two- and four-year-old). I've also channelled my pain into comfort food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We made a day trip with some friends up north to Koumac for a coffee (café gourmand is my new favourite thing to order now, especially if the patissier is inhouse) and then further to the <a href="http://malaboubeachresortpoum.onestophoteldeals.com/">Malabou resort</a> for lunch. We might book a weekend at Malabou soon as the beach is very nice and would be a good break.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Yesterday Emanuelle, Jack's new carer for school visited to spend a couple of hours getting to know him and how to care for him. I have to say I struggled through it due to some pain and have moved her appointment for this morning to Friday - hopefully feeling better then. She is just lovely and we're so excited to have her as Jack's carer when he starts next week at the local school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Unfortunately I couldn't put off a visit to the supermarket today, or as it is here, the supermarkets, as you can never get all that you need at just one. A rest this afternoon and then off to Jack's kini this afternoon for our regular appointment. The very beautiful Olivier, who was relieving Dom while on holidays has left for a while. But Dom is fantastic so we will be looking forward to seeing her again this afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1427314546224488380#editor/target=post;postID=3174556166082257852;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=11;src=postname">I've written about really enjoying eggplant</a> here. Last week I made <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/413/chargrilled+steak+with+caponata">this caponata</a> and it was fantastic. We had it with simple grilled tuna but tonight we'll have it with beef steaks (thankyou New Zealand) and baked potatoes. Hard to beat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I also made a great chicken and vegetable soup on Sunday night to sooth my frazzled body and soul. I used half a bought roast chicken and added lots of diced zucchini, carrot, red onion, garlic and potato as well as some homegrown radishes, tomato and parsley. It was superb, really light and flavoursome and I am still thinking about it! I think I will have to make it again this weekend. Soup is great, don't you agree? I also made a delicious garlic bread with leftover baguette. Food for the soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And finally, I have a new article on My French Life about Cyclone Sandra last month. A storm in a teacup, or as the French say, a storm in a glass of water. You can read it <a href="http://myfrenchlife.org/2013/04/11/cyclone-season-in-a-tropical-french-territory/">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sorry, no photos this time. I had one of Malabou but it's terrible so perhaps next time!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-15341906699411225242013-04-05T21:36:00.000+11:002013-04-05T21:36:29.358+11:00What March held for us.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v5z_-qWNzmcFXWW_m25biD5MZDPWZs_WDdCIuHxxIQPkoEfPfQuviPvrEIPCAPNbDBmaISB-H96hi_sGZtVWVjNXGWkRtzn-VlO-p8iSkgCPKJi1nISLTBGvfdd9-joBk-F8BiC7mkE/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage-march1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v5z_-qWNzmcFXWW_m25biD5MZDPWZs_WDdCIuHxxIQPkoEfPfQuviPvrEIPCAPNbDBmaISB-H96hi_sGZtVWVjNXGWkRtzn-VlO-p8iSkgCPKJi1nISLTBGvfdd9-joBk-F8BiC7mkE/s400/PicMonkey+Collage-march1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another month has flown past, bringing us to 8 months in New Caledonia. It was an eventful month, closing chapters and beginning new ones.</span></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A long chapter closed when finally, after 17 years of employment with Myer, I resigned. Not able to extend my leave any further, and plainly not able to resume work, I was really left with no option. New possiblities await me upon my return to Australia. (Also if you hear of any great jobs going in the next few years - well, you know my number!).</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cyclone Sandra skirted past us.</span></div>
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</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We enjoyed a weekend in Nouméa for Easter, where we obtained one car for Rob, plus a scooter and balance bike for Nellie.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sczl5Grp4hlOjmXcxZPM94C5rswkI71HxMxy0IRRXqNlNEhxoiI023lsfsbMkGH5zrc7eNRvj6Eo-8HXwVzIuQGgVv6Y6pP3cCV1et-6bNhmoKcD8MS_4x66YsZY_Eq74kqaJo7wpxY/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage-march2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sczl5Grp4hlOjmXcxZPM94C5rswkI71HxMxy0IRRXqNlNEhxoiI023lsfsbMkGH5zrc7eNRvj6Eo-8HXwVzIuQGgVv6Y6pP3cCV1et-6bNhmoKcD8MS_4x66YsZY_Eq74kqaJo7wpxY/s400/PicMonkey+Collage-march2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We've watched a lot of Sesame St downloads.</span></div>
</li>
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</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nellie is proving herself a potential Olympic swimmer - or a bathing beauty - or both.</span></div>
</li>
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</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We've discovered the local 'mairie' has begun a insect 'fogging' regime. Now I know how a blowy feels when it gets sprayed with Mortein.</span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n9QSDd2OXXvNZy0zgZAIbRAjL7nS6OWECpztH7VbmxSwxBJGcHKhtxbzpZ-czIAQNrGUb8YvB8WvesG8V8YujnPiJ8bEp9aw80L9AaAhsD-E_UZe_OIcbK-N3RBAJCyXmzUtaafepP8/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage-march3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n9QSDd2OXXvNZy0zgZAIbRAjL7nS6OWECpztH7VbmxSwxBJGcHKhtxbzpZ-czIAQNrGUb8YvB8WvesG8V8YujnPiJ8bEp9aw80L9AaAhsD-E_UZe_OIcbK-N3RBAJCyXmzUtaafepP8/s400/PicMonkey+Collage-march3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rob and I celebrated - extremely modestly - 8 years of wedded bliss ;)</span></div>
</li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">At last! We are having some significant success with Jack's toilet training. We're not totally there yet, but he's come a long way in just one month. So excited for him!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had <a href="http://myfrenchlife.org/2013/03/14/bonjour-et-au-revoir-expat-friendship-in-tropical-france/">another article published</a> on My Friend Life.</span></div>
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</div>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Of course, there wasy a lot more than that, but the rest was just the routine - Rob's work, doing the grocery shopping, Jack going to the kini twice a week, doing a bit of gardening to encourage vegetables (now getting tomatoes) and occupying the kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWvjj8DxpNujbHp6VJEBJHydmORtiCDmvGfQcMl92yFhN4LAid4OdrgGfx5fxzfY1OoYhp9W3wCkDF-FDXVpKRqX5vIG8CpxfKZLGPbZEYK925iQYdc8ZgVnwPPaCM0cxqqdIiKueJFY/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+random.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWvjj8DxpNujbHp6VJEBJHydmORtiCDmvGfQcMl92yFhN4LAid4OdrgGfx5fxzfY1OoYhp9W3wCkDF-FDXVpKRqX5vIG8CpxfKZLGPbZEYK925iQYdc8ZgVnwPPaCM0cxqqdIiKueJFY/s400/PicMonkey+Collage+random.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've thrown in a couple of old photos you may not have seen before which I discovered on Rob's iphone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our plans for April include finally getting a French tutor at home, having a weekend away up north at Malabou resort and for Jack - school!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-64854553293007803912013-03-16T14:34:00.001+11:002013-04-16T12:18:01.315+10:00Friends and family :: a report and an update in pictures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh107BUyLgIsRElvUAcvSGuYNE20SH8A44MpSNFlrpbQ_vo2tqrsJJ3uYMXLv08Kj6E1-X-KXqNv7mkRUXhZDbXiH_AYQplGmvzgXCP11zgd1WxoTeDt8gh3rOf_Xp5D_ejlHWfvwndLWA/s1600/P1020435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh107BUyLgIsRElvUAcvSGuYNE20SH8A44MpSNFlrpbQ_vo2tqrsJJ3uYMXLv08Kj6E1-X-KXqNv7mkRUXhZDbXiH_AYQplGmvzgXCP11zgd1WxoTeDt8gh3rOf_Xp5D_ejlHWfvwndLWA/s400/P1020435.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sesame St download time</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bonjour!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My latest My French Life article is now published. Click </span><a href="http://myfrenchlife.org/2013/03/14/bonjour-et-au-revoir-expat-friendship-in-tropical-france/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> to read it and have a squiz at the rest of the intriguing articles while you're there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Plus, a few family snaps to give you a taste of life here recently...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjqUMNz3u5h0RvvJ3LD7cHlcM3s9VvIrQul9zaYTDNo2NzgDav80UoR24IZ0ZeLgvua0Nuf7ERXmwL5GrsnLqp4dUHIe3g8MGn4s_uVaxi7_BAJQwPvV6qeMG1Iag8LCud59WvIQmjd8/s1600/P1020451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjqUMNz3u5h0RvvJ3LD7cHlcM3s9VvIrQul9zaYTDNo2NzgDav80UoR24IZ0ZeLgvua0Nuf7ERXmwL5GrsnLqp4dUHIe3g8MGn4s_uVaxi7_BAJQwPvV6qeMG1Iag8LCud59WvIQmjd8/s400/P1020451.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nellie 'Esther Williams' Dumsday in training</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVUQIhufsu_TlRoYQ55ShogZIRLo0LqqsE_jJMLJZR0CHzd5vyxA28o0Fhk8fAqcbOPfWqupCmxsofhwv5R8cZmPAX7a3xcSj5C39fRvmHR5EZl7U-36UMI2chEujr5IQ6CQnzH4fj8k/s1600/P1020497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVUQIhufsu_TlRoYQ55ShogZIRLo0LqqsE_jJMLJZR0CHzd5vyxA28o0Fhk8fAqcbOPfWqupCmxsofhwv5R8cZmPAX7a3xcSj5C39fRvmHR5EZl7U-36UMI2chEujr5IQ6CQnzH4fj8k/s400/P1020497.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bedtime jinx</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdnx44TJYgGjEPm_x64nDHxIJLtvKlXbd6N4ZgSLJsA0ova4_vaM7YGuFn8vGIleeGKMhu-41Tiv1MC9zfbw-0aMnM5-M6i-in6sRFq0-f4xlMmJdGy-qclZCQuPo-tPCJDrdx6UlfeQ/s1600/P1020505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdnx44TJYgGjEPm_x64nDHxIJLtvKlXbd6N4ZgSLJsA0ova4_vaM7YGuFn8vGIleeGKMhu-41Tiv1MC9zfbw-0aMnM5-M6i-in6sRFq0-f4xlMmJdGy-qclZCQuPo-tPCJDrdx6UlfeQ/s400/P1020505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My personal bodyguards showing off their muscles</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bon weekend!</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427314546224488380.post-28613802342634213552013-03-06T13:24:00.001+11:002013-03-06T13:24:34.246+11:00This was February<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjausdqItIviLvZMkqD9KcD7zPFKiiPVtF3QjjPvIUDI4_9-2NS-6KfcUuXfGnDgVGz6Pe1W5zoAgsvKnyvUPPYh5lU_aDhdQPCPoJLWie3yfmgPmlwZWDT8p73Y4ldpyckJT1PvVPOJcs/s1600/Feb+13+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjausdqItIviLvZMkqD9KcD7zPFKiiPVtF3QjjPvIUDI4_9-2NS-6KfcUuXfGnDgVGz6Pe1W5zoAgsvKnyvUPPYh5lU_aDhdQPCPoJLWie3yfmgPmlwZWDT8p73Y4ldpyckJT1PvVPOJcs/s640/Feb+13+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Somewhere between getting back from 5 weeks in Australia and now, February happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It seems to have gone very fast and yet we managed to pack a bit in, not that the photo evidence supports this claim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We made some inroads - and have met a large roadblock - into getting Jack into the local school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our Baby Nellie turned 2 and celebrated in a harried-mummy style of a '2' candle on a chocolate eclair (they really do sell the best frozen desserts here). Before you get all huffy on me for being slack, I DID manage to make a fabulous princess crown for her, which, I tell you, will last a lot longer than any cake would have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If my stitching holds, that is.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VgKdahucHIGKL4aXanDRVlwyykgINcY6jPJzKgrDazGsRRHZamyg8QVjImE33m94jT3VGhlPc6Y60xscvfjz1sKE-j-41Y2pHRfqgjMhkiDhk_QI0VFDx-ATPfanqVjV0KC6g5Ha9Qs/s1600/P1020370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VgKdahucHIGKL4aXanDRVlwyykgINcY6jPJzKgrDazGsRRHZamyg8QVjImE33m94jT3VGhlPc6Y60xscvfjz1sKE-j-41Y2pHRfqgjMhkiDhk_QI0VFDx-ATPfanqVjV0KC6g5Ha9Qs/s320/P1020370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The big logistical event was the collaboration of friends and family to get Jack's first wheelchair over here. As soon as he gets into school we can give it some work. In the meantime we are pushing the walker (no pun intended) and most days harrass the locals in the supermarket. Several apologies for Jack's hoon noises, crashes with displays of tinned haricots and attempts at GBH (ankle-targeted) are hastily mumbled in bad French each time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Rob made inroads into child labour dressed up as 'let's help Daddy wash the car'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We had a daytrip up to Poingam, the northern-most tip of mainland NC. Population up there is very few, being about 5-6 hours from Noumea or 2 1/2 - 3 hours from Pouembout. The last parts of road are unsealed and herds of horses roam around, mostly in the middle of the road. The foal pictured was resistant to the idea of self-preservation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It was also the month when Jack was given a 4-inch bruise on the arm by his devoted but brutal baby sister by a door. We witnessed all colours of the rainbow as it healed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I hope your February was eventful and happy, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18166536587236619107noreply@blogger.com1